Braking specialist, TMD Friction, has launched a new software solution to help garages document and evidence the quality of their work. TMD says working in partnership with GaraShield, the new web-based quality process and documentation platform has been developed in the workshop for the workshop.

The software offers clear task descriptions with all the necessary process steps for the specific vehicle model, regardless of whether it is an inspection or a repair being carried out. GaraShield also features an interactive user interface with the work steps carried out confirmed with just a click and vehicle defects and/or faulty parts can be described easily and documented with photos.

GaraShield can be integrated into existing IT solutions and this information can be made available in real time to everyone involved. It also aims to help future-proof independent garages by not only helping to increase efficiency, but to also aid new customer business opportunities.

TMD Friction worked closely with workshops to ensure the tool provides genuine value to their processes in a simple and easy-to-use way, with garage owner David Poole coming up with the original idea for the digital tool.

Soeren Kristensen, Vice President Global Marketing & Communication at TMD Friction, said, “As attitudes towards cars change, the fleet business will become increasingly important. To ensure enough business in the future too, the independents need to win over the fleets, which have very unique requirements when it comes to quality assurance in garages. Transparency is essential if the independent garages are to become an alternative for the fleets in the first place. Only in this way can they prove that they have the required qualifications and work quality, which are the most important criteria when it comes to being competitive.”

Soeren believes that following the coronavirus crisis, fleet managers have become significantly more aware of costs. This has created new opportunities for the independent market to get involved in the fleet business and their chances of success can be significantly increased by using digital workflow tools such as GaraShield.

Clement de Valon, Executive Vice President Independent Aftermarket, said: “Additional services such as this new software ensures we are remaining loyal to our long-established market. GaraShield will be sold exclusively through our specialist retail partners. This way, garages won’t have to get used to the language of IT experts first. We believe this to be another important step in increasing acceptance at the premises and making it easier for garages to seize new digital opportunities.”

More information about GaraShield can be found at https://www.garashield.co.uk/